Harry’s Law: New NBC Legal Drama; Cancel or Keep It?

by Trevor Kimball, January 25, 2011

Last week, NBC unveiled their newest legal drama series, Harry’s Law. Interestingly, this isn’t a new Law & Order spin-off but rather the brainchild of David E. Kelley who created shows like ABC’s Boston Legal. He also worked on NBC’s popular LA Law many years ago. Will this legal series last as long as those or be quickly cancelled instead?

Harry’s Law revolves around Harriet “Harry” Korn (Kathy Bates), a curmudgeonly ex-patent lawyer. She’s abruptly fired from her blue chip law firm, forcing her to search for a fresh start. Harry finds it when she meets Malcolm Davies (Aml Ameen), a college student who desperately needs her help and ends up working for her. A young legal hotshot named Adam Branch (Nate Corddry) accidentally hits her and gives up his corporate job to join the team. With the help of Harry’s shoe-obsessed assistant, Jenna (Brittany Snow), they open for business as Harriet’s Law and Fine Shoes.

The TV series debuted last Monday and it attracted an okay 2.2 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 11.07 million viewers. It ranked in second place for the timeslot though probably would have been third if Castle had not been a repeat. Though that’s not a great debut, it’s a 47% improvement over Chase’s last original episode in the same timeslot. That’s very positive for NBC.

What do you think of Harry's Law?

Last night’s episode of Harry’s Law drew a 2.1 in the demo and 10.43 million viewers. That’s a loss of about 5% in the demo from the premiere but still positive since most shows lose between 10 and 15% of their viewership in week two. Most people who watched last week obviously liked it and returned and perhaps even told a friend or two.

After just two airings, Harry’s Law ranks in sixth place on the list of NBC’s most-watched scripted programs, just below 30 Rock. That’s very positive, especially considering NBC’s string of bad luck in the Mondays at 10pm timeslot. If the series can sustain or even build on these early numbers, it looks certain that NBC will renew it for season two.

But, what do you think? Do you like Harry’s Law? Do you think NBC should keep it going or just cancel it? What do you like or dislike about the new series?

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I actually enjoyed the show. I laughed until I cried. I loved the touch of a liberal with a gun!! I live outside Cincy and I must say, it did give the city a greater appeal than what I’ve seen. I noticed the Purple People Bridge on the last episode- I thought that was a neat touch. I do agree that the language could be reigned in a bit. My 13 year old wanted to watch the show b/c it was “about Cincy”, but I had to send him out b/c of the cussing. I do think it would be… Read more »

Networks are too quick on the draw to cancel or keep.
Shows need to mature some before you can make the decision to keep or cancel.
Many people don’t find a show until it’s been out for awhile.
Give it a chance, already! Usually the writers will tweak it here and there to get it right and you can’t always make that happen in the first two or three episodes.

LOVED IT! Its a twist on Law and Order meets Just Shoot Me. Its quirky and spunky. For those of you who didnt enjoy it, by all means…pick up the clicker and move on. Let the rest of us enjoy this new twist on comical legal drama… I’ll be watching every episode from here on out!

When I saw the name Kathy Bates I knew I had to watch this show. I don’t watch much of the non pay channels CBS, NBC, ABC. I watch mostly pay television and most of that is just repeats of Golden Girls, because it is either all reality or infomercials. I sure hope Harry’s Law keeps going its about time we had a show everyone can enjoy watching and the acting is wonderful. Oh by the way I am 62 years old so your demographic doesn’t fit me. What happens at 49 does everyone drop off the face of the… Read more »

I bow to Scott Fitz’s right to express his opinion but I will exercise mine by totally DISagreeing with him. This is a well-written and well acted show that should be given more than a 2-week chance to establish itself. One of the reasons it may have had a slow start is the fact that it’s opposite CBS’s #1 show in that time slot…”Hawaii 5-O” . I am an avid fan of that show but, thanks to modern technology, I can watch “Harry’s Law” live and then watch “Hawaii 5-O” the next day on the internet. It’s a win-win situation… Read more »

I like the show a lot. I have enjoyed David E Kelley’s shows (especially The Practice, which I feel is one of the best shows to have ever aired on TV). BUT, the one thing that does bug me, just a little, as other viewers have stated, is the preaching. Obviously Mr, Kelly, and /0r the other producers are lefties (who in Hollywood isn’t, or at least doesnt state otherwise), but I really really, don’t need the references to “health care” and such every week. I know it’s tempting to try to influence your audience, but come on, if that’s… Read more »

I think that the show is great and it was a mistake to put it up against Hawaii Five O and Castle which have already proved themselves. I would recommend that they try another night and/or time slot. NBC has lost many good shows due to poor time slots and not giving the shows an opportunity to gain an audience. it is better than those reality shows and I believe that if you put it on Monday at 8:00 pm it would do fine. Keep the show just move it to another day or time

The show is an insult – I watched the second show with my daughter because she wants to be a lawyer. How embarrassing! The LANGUAGE was so childish and out of place and the political crap was so biased that I turned the show off before it was over. I will never watch again. Sponsors should run… I’ve been to the bad part of Cincinnati, I grew up in one of the government run projects, and I must have missed all of the cute little shops. This show is a joke. Maybe Bates should take a real stroll through the… Read more »

I completely agree with Scott Fitz’s assessment of this show. Television is supposed to entertain not present a political agenda. Delete the political propaganda and you might have a good show. How sad that an actress of Kathy Bates’ stature and tallent has fallen to this level.